Identification activities
are undertaken to gather information about historic properties in an
area. The scope of these activities will depend on: existing knowledge
about properties; goals for survey activities developed in the planning
process; and current management needs.

Standard
I. Identification of Historic Properties Is Undertaken to the Degree
Required To Make Decisions

Archival research
and survey activities should be designed to gather the information necessary
to achieve defined preservation goals. The objectives, chosen methods
and techniques, and expected results of the identification activities
are specified in a research design. These activities may include archival
research and other techniques to develop historic contexts, sampling
an area to gain a broad understanding of the kinds of properties it
contains, or examining every property in an area as a basis for property
specific decisions. Where possible, use of quantitative methods is important
because it can produce an estimate, whose reliability may be assessed,
of the kinds of historic properties that may be present in the studied
area. Identification activities should use a search procedure consistent
with the management needs for information and the character of the area
to be investigated. Careful selection of methods, techniques and level
of detail is necessary so that the gathered information will provide
a sound basis for making decisions.

Standard
II. Results of Identification Activities Are Integrated Into the Preservation
Planning Process

Results of identification
activities are reviewed for their effects on previous planning data.
Archival research or field survey may refine the understanding of one
or more historic contexts and may alter the need for additional survey
or study of particular property types. Incorporation of the results
of these activities into the planning process is necessary to ensure
that the planning process is always based on the best available information.

Information gathered
in identification activities is useful in other preservation planning
activities only when it is systematically gathered and recorded, and
made available to those responsible for preservation planning. The results
of identification activities should be reported in a format that summarizes
the design and methods of the survey, provides a basis for others to
review the results, and states where information on identified properties
is maintained. However, sensitive information, like the location of
fragile resources, must be safeguarded from general public distribution.

These Guidelines
link the Standards for Identification with more specific guidance and
technical information. The Guidelines outline one approach to meet the
Standards for Identification. Agencies, organizations and individuals
proposing to approach identification differently may wish to review
their approaches with the National Park Service.

Identification
is undertaken for the purpose of locating historic properties and is
composed of a number of activities which include, but are not limited
to archival research, informant interviews, field survey and analysis.
Combinations of these activities may be selected and appropriate levels
of effort assigned to produce a flexible series of options. Generally
identification activities will have multiple objectives, reflecting
complex management needs. Within a comprehensive planning process, identification
is normally undertaken to acquire property-specific information needed
to refine a particular historic context or to develop any new historic
contexts. (See the Guidelines for Preservation Planning for discussion
of information gathering to establish plans and develop historic contexts.)
The results of identification activities are then integrated into the
planning process so that subsequent activities are based on the most
up-to-date information. Identification activities are also undertaken
in the absence of a comprehensive planning process, most frequently
as part of a specific land use or development project. Even lacking
a formally developed preservation planning process, the benefits of
efficient, goal-directed research may be obtained by the development
of localized historic contexts, suitable in scale for the project ares,
as part of the background research which customarily occurs before field
survey efforts.

Performing
Identification

Research Design
Identification activities are essentially research activities for which
a statement of objectives or research design should be prepared before
work is performed. Within the framework of a comprehensive planning
process, the research design provides a vehicle for integrating the
various activities performed during the identification process and for
linking those activities directly to the goals and the historic context(s)
for which those goals were defined. The research design stipulates the
logical integration of historic context(s) and field and laboratory
methodology. Although these tasks may be performed individually, they
will not contribute to the greatest extent possible in increasing information
on the historic context unless they relate to the defined goals and
to each other. Additionally, the research design provides a focus for
the integration of interdisciplinary information. It ensures that the
linkages between specialized activities are real, logical and address
the defined research questions. Identification activities should be
guided by the research design and the results discussed in those terms.
(See Reporting Identification Results.)

The research design
should include the following:

Objectives
of the identification activities. For example: to characterize the
range of historic properties in a region; to identify the number of
properties associated with a context; to gather information to determine
which properties in an area are significant. The statement of objectives
should refer to current knowledge about the historic contexts or property
types, based on background research or assessments of previous research.
It should clearly define the physical extent of the area to be investigated
and the amount and kinds of information to be gathered about properties
in the area.

Methods
to be used to obtain the information. For example: archival research
or field survey. Research methods should be clearly and specifically
related to research problems.

Archival research
or survey methods should be carefully explained so that others using
the gathered information can understand how the information was
obtained and what its possible limitations or biases are. The methods
should be compatible with the past and present environmental character
of the geographical area under study and the kinds of properties
most likely to be present in the area.

The expected
results and the reason for those expectations. Expectations about
the kind, number, location, character and condition of historic properties
are generally based on a combination of background research, proposed
hypotheses, and analogy to the kinds of properties known to exist
in areas of similar environment or history.

Archival Research
Archival or background research is generally undertaken prior to any
field survey. Where identification is undertaken as part of a comprehensive
planning process, background research may have taken place as part of
the development of the historic contexts (see the Guidelines for Preservation
Planning). In the absence of previously developed historic contexts,
archival research should address specific issues and topics. It should
not duplicate previous work. Sources should include, but not be limited
to, historical maps, atlases, tax records, photographs, ethnographies,
folklife documentation, oral histories and other studies, as well as
standard historical reference works, as appropriate for the research
problem. (See the Guidelines for Historical Documentation for additional
discussion.)

Field Survey
The variety of field survey techniques available, in combination with
the varying levels of effort that may be assigned, give great flexibility
to implementing field surveys. It is important that the selection of
field survey techniques and level of effort be responsive to the management
needs and preservation goals that direct the survey effort.

Survey techniques
may be loosely grouped into two categories, according to their results.
First are the techniques that result in the characterization of a region's
historic properties. Such techniques might include "windshield" or walk-over
surveys, with perhaps a limited use of sub-surface survey. For purposes
of these Guidelines, this kind of survey is termed a "reconnaissance."
The second category of survey techniques is those that permit the identification
and description of specific historic properties in an area; this kind
of survey effort is termed "intensive." The terms "reconnaissance" and
"intensive" are sometimes defined to mean particular survey techniques,
generally with regard to prehistoric sites. The use of the terms here
is general and is not intended to redefine the terms as they are used
elsewhere.

Reconnaissance
survey might be most profitably employed when gathering data to
refine a developed historic context—such as checking on the presence
or absence of expected property types, to define specific property types
or to estimate the distribution of historic properties in an area. The
results of regional characterization activities provide a general understanding
of the historic properties in a particular area and permit management
decisions that consider the sensitivity of the area in terms of historic
preservation concerns and the resulting implications for future land
use planning. The data should allow the formulation of estimates of
the necessity, type and cost of further identification work and the
setting of priorities for the individual tasks involved. In most cases,
areas surveyed in this way will require resurvey if more complete information
is needed about specific properties.

A reconnaissance
survey should document:

The kinds of
properties looked for;

The boundaries
of the area surveyed;

The method of
survey, including the extent of survey coverage;

The kinds of
historic properties present in the surveyed area;

Specific properties
that were identified, and the categories of information collected;
and

Places examined
that did not contain historic properties.

Intensive survey
is most useful when it is necessary to know precisely what historic
properties exist in a given area or when information sufficient for
later evaluation and treatment decisions is needed on individual historic
properties. Intensive survey describes the distribution of properties
in an area; determines the number, location and condition of properties;
determines the types of properties actually present within the area;
permits classification of individual properties; and records the physical
extent of specific properties. An intensive survey should document:

The kinds of
properties looked for;

The boundaries
of the area surveyed;

The method of
survey, including an estimate of the extent of survey coverage;

A record of the
precise location of all properties identified; and

Information on
the appearance, significance, integrity and boundaries of each property
sufficient to permit an evaluation of its significance.

SamplingReconnaissance or intensive survey methods may be employed according
to a sampling procedure to examine less-than-the-total project or planning
area.

Sampling can be
effective when several locations are being considered for an undertaking
or when it is desirable to estimate the cultural resources of an area.
In many cases, especially where large land areas are involved, sampling
can be done in stages. In this approach, the results of the initial
large area survey are used to structure successively smaller, more detailed
surveys. This "nesting" approach is an efficient technique since it
enables characterization of both large and small areas with reduced
effort. As with all investigative techniques, such procedures should
be designed to permit an independent assessment of results.

Various types of
sample surveys can be conducted, including, but not limited to: random,
stratified and systematic. Selection of sample type should be guided
by the problem the survey is expected to solve, the nature of the expected
properties and the nature of the area to be surveyed.

Sample surveys may
provide data to estimate frequencies of properties and types of properties
within a specified area at various confidence levels. Selection of confidence
levels should be based upon the nature of the problem the sample survey
is designed to address.

Predictive modeling
is an application of basic sampling techniques that projects or extrapolates
the number, classes and frequencies of properties in unsurveyed areas
based on those found in surveyed areas. Predictive modeling can be an
effective tool during the early stages of planning an undertaking, for
targeting field survey and for other management purposes. However, the
accuracy of the model must be verified; predictions should be confirmed
through field testing and the model redesigned and retested if necessary.

Special survey
techniquesSpecial survey techniques may be needed in certain situations.

Remote sensing techniques
may be the most effective way to gather background environmental data,
plan more detailed field investigations, discover certain classes of
properties, map sites, locate and confirm the presence of predicted
sites, and define features within properties. Remote sensing techniques
include aerial, subsurface and underwater techniques. Ordinarily the
results of remote sensing should be verified through independent field
inspection before making any evaluation or statement regarding frequencies
or types of properties.

Integrating
Identification Results

The results of
identification efforts must be integrated into the planning process
so that planning decisions are based on the best available information.
The new information is first assessed against the objectives of the
identification efforts to determine whether the gathered information
meets the defined identification goals for the historic context(s);
then the goals are adjusted accordingly. In addition, the historic context
narrative, the definition of property types and the planning goals for
evaluation and treatment are all adjusted as necessary to accommodate
the new data.

Reporting
Identification Results

Reporting of the
results of identification activities should begin with the statement
of objectives prepared before undertaking the survey. The report should
respond to each of the major points documenting:

Objectives;

Area researched
or surveyed;

Research design
or statement of objectives;

Methods used,
including the intensity of coverage. If the methods differ from those
outlined in the statement of objectives, the reasons should be explained.

Results: how
the results met the objectives; result analysis, implications and
recommendations; where the compiled information is located.

A summary of the
survey results should be available for examination and distribution.
Identified properties should then be evaluated for possible inclusion
in appropriate inventories.

Protection of information
about archeological sites or other properties that may be threatened
by dissemination of that information is necessary. These may include
fragile archeological properties or properties such as religious sites,
structures, or objects, whose cultural value would be compromised by
public knowledge of the property's location.

Guidelines for
Evaluating and Registering Historical Archeological Sites (WordPerfect
file or .zip
file). Department of the Interior, National Park Service, National
Register, History and Education, 1992, revised 1999.

The
Archeological Survey: Methods and Uses. Thomas F. King. Interagency
Archeological Services, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1978. Washington,
D.C. Available through the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. GPO stock number 024-016-00091.
Written primarily for the non-archeologist, this publication presents
methods and objectives for archeological surveys.

Cultural Resources
Evaluation of the Northern Gulf of Mexico Continental Shelf. National
Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1977.

The Process
of Field Research: Final Report on the Blue Ridge Parkway Folklife Project.
American Folklife Center, 1981.

Remote Sensing
and Non-Destructive Archeology. Thomas R. Lyons and James L. Ebert,
editors. Remote Sensing Division, Southwest Cultural Resources Center,
National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior and University
of New Mexico, 1978.

Remote Sensing
Experiments in Cultural Resource Studies: Non-Destructive Methods of
Archeological Exploration, Survey and Analysis. Thomas R. Lyons,
assembler. Reports of the Chaco Center, Number One. National Park Service,
U.S. Department of the Interior and University of New Mexico, 1976.

Truss Bridge
Types: A Guide to Dating and Identifying. Donald C. Jackson and
T. Allan Comp. American Association for State and Local History, 1977.
Nashville, Tennessee. Technical leaflet #95. Available from AASLH, 172
Second Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee 37201. Information about performing
surveys of historic bridges and identifying the types of properties
encountered.